I’m in the midst of a project that needs to be done by this weekend. Part of it involves sorting through garden and floral photos, which only exacerbates my hunger for spring. As I was searching my photo files, I remembered a book I like to revisit, The Invisible Garden by Dorothy Sucher. I knew right where it was on the bookshelf and needed a break, so, over I went, up I reached, and then I was was lost for a while in Sucher’s stories of her trials and tribulations, her joys and delights, as she takes up gardening in an old, blue farmhouse she and her husband buy in Vermont and live in part of the year.
The book is a charming collection of essays about the people and plants she meets; the pond and the woods and the spring on the property, the daffodils and the lady slippers. The essays stand alone, but, together form such a delightful journey through the seasons of the year and the seasons of life it would be a shame not to read it at least once in your lifetime.
The Invisible Garden is illustrated with the woodcuts of Vermont artist Mary Azarian, who you might know from children’s books she has illustrated. This illustration is from the frontispiece of The Invisible Garden.
Dorothy Sucher’s words are like sitting with an old friend. Sometimes we spend a long time with old friends. Sometimes, we just sit for a spell. I read through a bit, then went to a paragraph I remembered that calls to me at this particular season of my life. I hope you won’t mind if I share it here with you. It is from the last chapter, The Spring. I wish I could share the whole book with you now, wherever you are, as we drift slowly into new seasons.
” . . . Lately I seem to find myself wondering if it isn’t time for me to stop making gardens. Maybe I should even start cutting back on the ones I already have. This seems a reasonable idea at my age, for weight keeps creeping up on me, and I tire more easily that I used to. But when the ground begins to thaw and the smell of spring fills the air, I want to get my hands dirty. I feel that I still have a few gardens left in me. I might as well keep making them as long as I can. “
Another lovely post Penny, and, yet again, another lovely book. I am going to have to look this one up.
I can imagine that with a garden the size of your’s that you must wonder if you should cut it back, in the depth of winter ….but when spring arrives I am sure you will feel like enlarging it even. Such is the joy of gardening on beautiful days.
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You are always so kind, Marilyn. I appreciate it. I hope you can find the book. It is wonderful read.
Yes, I get to the point of wonder. The deer did so much damage this year. I’ve been saying “no more” but, know I will. Gardening is such a joy, isn’t it?
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This sounds like another great book. I really enjoyed this post and your enjoyment of the book. How nice to take a break from sorting through garden and floral photos by glancing through a book about gardening – and you knew right where to find it too!
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Thank you, Janet. It was a nice break. I usually can’t find my keys, but, I can find my books.
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Oh, that’s beautiful. Why stop? The business of growing a garden is a lifelong joy.
(Although if you could see mine right now you would wonder how I dared to wax so lyrical)
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Thank you, Kate. Like the writing of Sucher, I won’t. It is March, I say, the cruelest month. ha!
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This sounds lovely – the illustration is gorgeous. Will check to see if it’s available at the library.
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I think you might enjoy this, Cath. Isn’t the illustration wonderful? The author, now deceased, also wrote a few mysteries. I hope you can find the book.
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Beautiful, I love the woodcut. I will look for the book and I am still waiting for dirtwork to be finished around here before I start my garden. The day lilies that I planted in the fall are coming up beautifully and my raspberry bushes look good. So I’m off to a start, but I am way behind you.
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Isn’t it wonderful, Janet. She’s illustrated a lot of children’s books, including Snowflake Bentley. We saw some originals of Azarian years ago when we were in Vermont – and I’ve been kicking myself ever since that I didn’t buy a print.
You have time to start a garden.
OOoo, fresh raspberries.
You may be way behind me, but, things are looking pretty bleak right now in our yard as the you-know-who’s have done some pretty costly damage. Oh well.
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This sounds like just my kind of book, and a well-timed recommendation, since I’ve been gardening all weekend. Thank you Penny; I will certainly check it out at the library.
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I hope you can find it, Juliet, as I think you would enjoy this. Dorothy Sucher was an interesting woman, with many talents, including watercolorist, essayist, journalist and phychotherapist, reminding me of your resume.
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Dear “Blogger”:
My daughter-in-law found your blog about my late wife’s book. Dorothy would have been so pleased to know that it is still giving joy to many people. Reading these comments brought tears to my eyes.
Thank you, thank you.
Joe Sucher
Professor Emeritus of Physics
University of Maryland
PS: For those who might be interested there are several obituaries for her
on the WEB, one of which (Washington Post) includes a picture of her in her garden.
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What a pleasant surprise it was to find your comment awaiting, Joe. I am thrilled to hear from you. Yes, indeed, your Dorothy is still giving joy to me, and to so many others. I treasure this book and, as you can tell, visit with her often through its pages and words.
Thank you for the links to Dorothy’s obituary, especially in the Washington Post. What a lovely picture and write-up – a tribute to a full and well-lived life. You must miss her so, especially as I see you are coming upon the anniversary of her passing.
The Invisible Garden will always be on my shelf, waiting, and I think I will slip your kind words inside its covers.
Penny
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I too wonder if I have one more garden left in me, but am anxious to get out and see what’s happening. The crocuses are blooming. Some of the daffodils are ready to cut and bring inside, so yes I will be out there at least for another year.
I must find the book you suggested.
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What we have is that infectious malady known as garden fever, Bev. Your crocuses must be beautiful and the daffodils . . . well, that is a living story if there ever was one. A few have opened up here, but, I’m anxiously awaiting the premium bulbs, known here as Jerry’s daffodils, to bloom, for they have gone forth and multiplied and we are in for a treat.
You are welcome to borrow my book, Bev.
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BEAUTIFUL POST PENNY! IF WE ALL AREN’T BEING TEASED JUST ENOUGH. A WARM AND LOVELY EVENING LAST NIGHT BEFORE THE RAIN……………TODAY COLD TO THE BONE!
BUT, IN THOSE WONDERFUL POTS THAT ARE WAITING TO BE PLANTED………….I SPOTED A TEXAS BLUEBELL POPPING UP IN A FRONT YARD POT! BRIGHT GREEN AND BRIGHT PERIWINKLE BLUE IN ALL OF ITS GLORY. CERTAINLY SOME LITTLE CREATURE TRANSPLANTED A SEED OR TWO FROM THE BACKYARD AND IT WAS A SPRING REMINDER THAT ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE AS WE ANTICIPATE SPRING AND PLANTING YET ANOTHER WONDERFUL GARDEN OR TWO OR THREE.
AS FOR THE INVISIBLE GARDEN…………I MUST GO TO THE LIBRARY AND CHECK THAT ONE OUT AS I WAIT AND WAIT AND WAIT FOR SPRING!!!!!
WELL DONE NEIGHBOR!
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Thank you, Mary Anne. I know. Spring is a shameless tease, isn’t she?
How exciting to find a wandering Texas Bluebell. I love its gentle reminder, and your words, that anything is possible. I think we appreciate spring as we do here in the midwest because we have to wait and work for it. Yep. A few more gardens in us.
Do check it out, Mary Anne.
Thank you.
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I own this book but had forgotten about it. I’ve been asking myself the same question, “Should I forget about gardening?” Like the author, I think I still have a few gardens left in me. Thanks for reminding me of a good gardening book. I’m going to go find my copy right now.
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What a lovely blog you have, Debbie. I shall visit it again and again.
I hope you find your copy of The Invisible Garden and enjoy at least a few chapters of it. I think we gardeners all ponder that question from time-to-time, and then, the bulbs poke through, and the garden centers opens, and off we are in the frenzy of “garden fever”.
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Read this on your recommendation and I really enjoyed it. The sort of book that makes you want to view your own property and it’s possibilities. Now I want to create another garden area and stayed up last night sketching out a plan.
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I am so pleased you enjoyed The Invisible Garden. It is about the possibilities, isn’t it Aly? Wonderfully put. Oh, I’ve been up late many a night planning the next garden season. Enjoy, and if you think of it, let me know how your next garden area does.
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[…] The Invisible Garden by Dorothy Sucher A longtime city dweller and expert storyteller takes a fresh look at gardening in Vermont, tapping the connection between the mysteries of the earth and those of the human spirit. […]
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